Apparatus for destroying insects.



' w. M. & L. H; snow.

I APPARATUS FOR DES'I'ROYING INSECTS.

APPLICATION FILED I'EBJI; 1910.

Patented May 23, 1911,

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

w. M. & L. H.0ROW.

APPARATUS FOR DESTROYING INSECTS. APPLICATION FILED 1 33.21, 1910.993,036, Patented May 23,1911.

8 BHEET88HEET 3.

%zzz2 /z/[wz you w W02 dtmmga UNITED STATES, PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM M. CROW AND LEVI H. CROW, OF WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS; SAID WILLIAMM.

' GROW ASSIGNOR 'I'O SAID LEVI H. GROW.

APPARATUS FOR DESTROYING- INSECTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 23, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM M. Cnow and LEVI H. CROW, citizens of theUnited States, residing at Wichita Falls, in the county of Wichita andState of Texas, have invented a new and useful Apparatus for DestroyingInsects, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for destroyinginsects which infest cotton and other plants, and it has for its objectto provide an apparatus of this kind which removes the insects from theplants by suction, and after removal of the insects, dusts the plant todestroy the eggs and larvae which may be remaining thereon.

The invention also has for its object to provide an apparatus of thekind stated which moistens the plants before they are dusted so that thedisinfectant will stick.

A further object of the invention is to provide an insect destroyerwhich will operate on several rows of plants simultaneously, and whichis adjustable to different widths of rows, as well as heights of plants.

The invention also has for its object to provide an insect destroyerembodying certain novel features of construction to be hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

In order that the invention may be fully understood, reference is had tothe accompanying drawings, in Which Figure 1 is a side elevation of theapparatus. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on the line 22 of Fig. 3.Fig. 3 is a plan view. Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line.4-4 ofFig. 3. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the fenders hereinafter referredto, and the means for adjusting the same.

The machine is mounted on a suitable supporting frame carried by an axle10, fitted at its ends with ground wheels 11, said wheels being loose onthe axle so that they may turn independently of each other.

At 12 and 13 are indicated the fans of the suction apparatus, they beingmounted in axial alinement on a single shaft 14 extending transverselyof the machine, and sup- .ported at its ends in bearing brackets 15mounted on the side members 16 of the frame of the machine.

On each end of the shaft 14 is fixed a pinion 17 which meshes with agear 18 fixed on a stub-shaft supported in a bearing bracket 19 mountedon the'frame members 16. On the stub-shaft is also fixed a sprocketwheel 20. which is connected by a chain 21 to a sprocket wheel 22 faston a stub-shaft 23 supported in a bearing bracket 24, mounted on theframe members 16. On the stubshaft 23 is loosely mounted a sprocketwheel 25 which carries a spring pawl 26' engageable with a ratchet wheel27 fast on the stub-shaft. Each side of the machine is equipped with theherein described gearing. The. sprocket wheel 25 on one side of themachine is connected by a chain 28to a sprocket wheel 29 fastened to theground wheel 11 on the same side of the machine, and the sprocket wheel25 on the other side of the machine is connected by a chain 30 to asprocket wheel 31 fastened on the ground wheel on that side of themachine.

By providing the herein described pawl and ratchet drive for both endsof the fan shaft, the machine is enabled to make turns without stoppingthe operation of the fan, and it can also back without transmittingmotion to the fan shaft.

At 32 is indicated a cylindrical casing inclosing the fans. This casingis closed at its ends, the respective end walls being indicated at 33and 34 respectively.

With the fan casing communicate suction nozzles, three of such nozzlesbeing provided in order that three rows of plants may be operated onsimultaneously. These nozzles are indicated at 41, 42 and 43, they ex:tending downwardly in a position so as to pass over the plants to beoperated on.

At the mouths of the nozzles are mounted fenders or guides comprisingside walls 44, and a top 45. Each nozzle is provided with a fender, andthe plants enter between the side walls 44, and are guided thereby tothe mouth of the nozzles, said walls extending divergingly from thenozzles, by which they are made to gather the plants and to direct themto the mouths of the nozzles. The fenders also serve to prevent escapeof the insects.

The nozzles and fenders are preferably made of some flexible fabric sothat the plants will not be injured, the fabric being mounted on asuitable skeleton frame to give the parts the form shown. The fendersare adjustable to rows of different widths as well as plants ofdifferent heights. This adj ustmentis effected by the following means Tothe axle 10 are secured draft bars 46.

which extend forwardly therefrom, convergingly, so as to receive betweentheir front ends a draft tongue 47. At the front end of the machine, thebars 46 are connected by a cross bar 48 to which the butt end ofthe'tongue 47 is made fast by angle strips 49. To the cross bar 48 arefulcrumed hand levers 50 which are connected to the fenders in such amanner, that the latter are raised bars 52 may be expanded or drawntogether,

whereby adjustment of the fenders to the width of the rows is effected.The bars 52 are operated as stated by means of hand levers 53 fulcrumedon the cross bar 48, one of said hand levers being connected to theouter bar 52 of one of the end fenders, and theother hand lever to theouter bar 52 of the other end fender.

The outlet from the fan casing 82 is through openings 54 made in therear side thereof, one of these openings being made in each section ofthe fan easing. These openings 54 communicate with a chamber 55extending across the rear of the machine, and having in its bottomopenings to which are connected chutes 56 for discharging a disinfectanton the plants as will be presently described. These chutes are also madeof some suitable flexible fabric so that as they drag across the plants,the latter will not be injured. The chutes 56 communicate with thechamber 55, and across the inlet ends of the chutes are placed screens57. The end walls of the chamber 55 are provided with doors 58 in orderthat access to the interior of the chamber for the purpose of removingthe insects from the screens 57, may be had. Above the chamber 55, ismounted a receptacle 59 containing the disinfectant to be blown on theplants. This receptacle extends transversely of the machine, and is ofsubstantially the same length as the chamber 55. From the bottom of thereceptacle 59 a short chute 60 extends to and enters the chamber 55through the top thereof, said chute serving to convey the disinfectantinto said chamber.

The disinfectant is in the form of a powder, the same being ground up inthe re-,

which, when the shaft is in motion, stir the outside of the receptacle.

up the disinfecting material and reduce the same to a powder. Theagitator is operated from the stub shafts 23 by means of pinions 63mounted on said shafts, and meshing with spur wheels 64 mounted on theends of the shaft 62, said spur wheels being located on In the chute 60is mounted an agitator 62 which turns slowly and grinds out thedisinfectant.

This agitator is mounted on a shaft 63" extending parallel to the shaft62 and geared thereto by means of a pinion 64 on the shaft 62 in meshwith a spur gear 64 on the shaft 63*. s V

In the operation of the .machine, it is driven along the rows of plants,and guided so that the plants enter between the fenders. As the nozzles41 pass over the plants, the suction produced by the fans removes theinsects, and they are carried through the fan casing, and thrown throughopenings 54 into the chamber 55. The air also enters this chamber, andis deflected into the chutes 56, and guided by the latter onto theplants. The rear wall of the chamber is curved so as to deflect the airinto the chutes. The disinfecting material dropping into the chamber 55is taken up by the air and blown on the plants, said material droppinginto the chamber 55 from the receptacle 59 as already described, andpassing with the air through the chutes 56. There are as many chutes 56as there are fenders so that the same number of plants from which theinsects that have been removed, will be dusted. The chutes 56 arearranged or adjusted to different heights of plants by having differentsizes or lengths of such chutes.

In order that the disinfecting material may stick to the plants, meansare provided for sprinkling the plants before applying the disinfectant.This operation is effected by the following means: On the top of themachine is mounted a tank65 having double walls indicated at 66 and 67respectively. This tank is fitted with a lid 68 having a continuousdepending flange 69 which eX- tends down into the space between thewalls 66 and 67. To the upper edge of the wall 66 is secured a sheet 7 Oof rubber or other flexible material, said sheet lying between the wall66 and the flange 69, it being also se-.

cured to the lower'edge of the flange. The function of the sheet 70 istomake an air and liquid tight joint between the wall 66 and the flange69. On the lid 68 is mounted the drivers seat 71, and the lid. is alsoprovided with a suitable filling opening having a closure 72. The tank.65 is fitted with a nipple 72 to which are connected flexible tubes 73leading to a union 74. To this union are also connected flexible tubes 75 extending to and fitted on nipples 76 on the lid 68. To the union 74are also connected discharge pipes 77 which may also be flexiw bletubes, and said pipes are provided with nozzles 78. Three of these pipesare provided. in order that three rows of plants may be simultaneouslysprinkled, and they extend over the fan casing 32, and downwardly behindthe same into proper position to direct the fluid on the plants, thedischarge nozzles 78 being located slightly in advance of the dischargeends of the chutes 56. Three tubes 73 extend from the tank to the union,and two tubes 75 extend from the lid to the union, the last mentionedtubes entering opposite ends of the union.

In operation, the tank 65 is partly filled with water so as to leave anair space between the surface of the water and the lid 68. The aircontained in this space is compressed by the weight of the driveroccupying the seat 71, whereby the water is forced out of the tank, andis discharged through the nozzles 78 onto the plants. If desired, Parisgreen or other poisons may be added to the water, so that thedestruction of any insects that may remain on the plants is assured. Thetubes 73 and 75 are provided with valves which will be closed at first,and after the air is compressed in the tank, the valves will be openedmore or less to start the springing operation, the proportion of waterand air being mixed by adjustment of the valves.

It is believed that the operation of the apparatus will be apparent fromthe foregoing description, but it may be summarized as follows: Afterfilling the receptacle 59 and the tank 65, and adjusting the fenders tothe height of the plants, as well as the width of the rows, the machineis driven across the field and guided so that the plants will properlyenter between the fenders. The suction produced by the fans removes theinsects from the plants, and the disinfecting one attendant beingnecessary, whose only duty is to guide the machine, the remainder of theoperation being entirely automatic.

What is claimed is:

1. In an insect destroyer, a wheeled frame, a suction apparatus mountedthereon and including a suction nozzle, a disinfectant distributeroperating behind the suction nozzle, and a liquid spraying device havinga nozzle located adjacent to the disinfectant distributer anddischarging in front thereof.

2. In an insect destroyer, a wheeled frame, a fan and its casing mountedon said frame, a suction tube extending from the fan casing, a chamberinto which the fan discharges the insects, a receptacle for adisinfecting material discharging into the chamber, and a chuteextending from said chamber through which the disinfecting material isblown onto the plants.

3. In an insect destroyer, a wheeled frame, a fan and its casing mountedon said frame, a suction pipe connected to the fan casing, a chamberinto which the fan discharges the insects, areceptacle containing adisinfectant, said receptacle discharging into the aforesaid chamber, anagitator working. in the receptacle, and a chute extending from thechamber, through which chute the disinfecting material is blown onto theplants.

4. In an insect destroyer, a wheeled frame, a fan and its casing mountedin the frame, a suction tube, and an outlet chute connected to the fancasing, an insect receptacle connected to said outlet chute, and a re-85 ceptacle for a disinfecting material discharging through the outletchute.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own, we have heretoaffixed our signatures in the presence of witnesses.

WILLIAM M. CROWV. LEVI H. CROW. Witnesses as to William M. Grow:

J. J. SWEENEY, O'rrs L. DUNCAN. Witnesses as to Levi I-I. Crow:

J. L. POWELL, THos. J. LANCASTER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe "Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, 1). c.

